Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)

I'd just like to take a moment and acknowledge the efforts of one man who saw a future for this country of opportunity way before anyone else believed the same. Dr. King was a prophet for Black Americans in a country that boasted about an equality that his group of followers had never gotten to experience, but hoped to attain. In his final speech before his death, King said to his people, "What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. So I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." As we move forward as a nation and as a people, we notice more and more that the 'melting pot' that describes our country becomes more and more like a 'salad bowl.' But it is very important and also it was Martin's Dream that all our nation's parts of the 'salad' come together truly as One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.